Water → 4-Hydroxybutyl acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

The tube reactor is charged with 85 grams of silica-magnesia catalyst (70% silica -- 30% magnesia, 3/16 inch × 3/16 inch pills, Davison Chemical) and maintained at 220°-250° C. As in Example 1, 50.0 grams of 1,4-butanediol diacetate and 50 ml. of water are copassed over one hour. The effluent contains, as shown by quantitative glpc analysis, 12.2 grams of the unconverted butanediol diacetate (24% recovery), 15.1 grams of tetrahydrofuran and 24.4 grams of acetic acid (96% and 93% yields, respectively, based on 76% conversion), and 0.1 grams of 4-acetoxybutanol (0.3% yield).

Provenance & Evidence